Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region’s most cherished ensembles and venues.
Want more music? Head to our general Music guide for our latest scoop on the North’s best gigs and festivals.
A historic moment arrives as John Adams, one of the world’s greatest living composers, returns to the Hallé to conduct his own music.
Adventure awaits with an interactive family-friendly afternoon featuring live orchestral music from How to Train Your Dragon, Peer Gynt, and Sleeping Beauty alongside a special screening of Magic Light Pictures’ BAFTA winning adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes.
As part of The John Adams Festival, which sees the living legend come to Manchester to conduct his own music, the RNCM Symphony Orchestra charts a musical journey through 20th century American life.
The UK’s biggest annual sax gathering returns, and in its 25th anniversary year the festival is headlined by one of the most influential figures in jazz and classical saxophone today: Branford Marsalis.
Experience F. W. Murnau’s landmark silent film on the big screen, as the haunting imagery of Faust: A German Folk Legend meets the spontaneity of an improvised live organ score.
A magical curse, a burst of laughter, and three tantalising oranges… Prokofiev’s L’Amour des Trois Oranges is a cocktail of satire, slapstick and fairy tale – an irreverent antidote to operatic solemnity.
This autumn, the RNCM launches its second Inspirational Artists series, spotlighting a huge range of touring musicians and ensembles, each bringing something unique to the stage.
Explore the uplands near Bradford with a sound walk from opera north featuring newly commissions sonic worlds as well as the music of Bradford’s compositional son Frederick Delius.
Home to the Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic orchestras, the Bridgewater Hall attracts some of the biggest names in classical music. Purpose-built to the tune of £42m, the hall was designed around its acoustic needs; it floats on 280 earthquake-proof isolations springs that mute all external noise, perfect for shielding around 250 performances a year from the trams outside.
The Royal Northern College of Music is both a music venue and an academic institution training up some of the country’s finest music students.
Still Manchester’s newest kid on the concert hall block, The Stoller Hall opened its doors in April 2017 to further enhance the city’s already enviable live music provision.
The 1930s Art Deco Philharmonic Hall, home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, gives no hint of the sensuous curves of the auditorium inside from its hard exterior.
Hallé St Peter’s is a deconsecrated Grade-II listed church, once a theatre prop store, then a knitting factory, before being restored and becoming home to the Hallé orchestra.
Manchester’s Albert Hall is an astounding Wesleyan Chapel turned live music venue, regularly hosting classical concerts.
Manchester Cathedral dates back to at least the 1400s and has been rebuilt many times. In current, striking form, it’s still a place of worship, but also host to regular gigs and events.
Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.
Leeds Caribbean & African Centre hosts sound system parties, workshops and events, celebrating African-Caribbean culture in the heart of Chapeltown.
The Loft is an intimate, industrial-style club tucked away on the edge of Manchester city centre. Known for its impeccable sound system and low-key vibe.
The Engine Room is a creative community hub in Southport’s Wayfarers Arcade, offering co-working space, cultural events and collaborative opportunities for artists, freelancers and educators.
Altogether Otherwise is a haven of activity where all are encouraged to make, do, dance, read and enjoy pursuing creativity with no pressure.
Future Yard is the Wirral’s most exciting music venue providing a stage and opportunities for musicians and the local community.
The largest of Rough Trade stores, it’s record shop, event space and concert venue in the heart of Liverpool, complete with its own gift shop
Round the Corner provides excellent drinks, local music and good vibes, with a rooftop bar and an event space in Liverpool’s Fabric District.
QUARRY is a grassroots music venue that works with and for the community, providing a platform for local musicians and other creatives.
Factory Square is a huge beer garden, on the banks of the River Irwell, with top-quality drinks and street food selections.
Our flagship Feel Good Club in Manchester, open 7 days a week, providing a beautiful friendly environment for coffee, brunch, lunch, cocktails and beers with an amazing selection of non alcoholic beverages too.
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Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.
Take me there
A host of Halloween horrors, experimental shorts, plus pioneering black British cinema make our October Cinema Guide.
From corrupted shoegaze to experimental electronica, post-hardcore to Indian classical, these are the shows that should be on your radar.
Step away from the usual. Tours and activities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity and offer something refreshingly different.
Take some eating-out tips from our October guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
Theatre this month bursts with contrasts - from bold new writing and Black History Month highlights to contemporary arts and reimagined classics.
Galleries around the North are gearing up for a new season of exhibitions - from iconic art prizes to smaller, artist-led gems.
One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...
